EVALUATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF SALT TOLERANT TARO IN FARMS AFFECTED BY SALT WATER INTRUSION IN PALAU

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0232938
• Project Start Date: Jan 2, 2013
• Project End Date: Dec 31, 2016
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
COLLEGE OF MICRONESIA
PO BOX 1179
KOLONIA POHNPEI,FM 96941

Performing Department
COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION

Non Technical Summary
Taro is an economic crop of utmost socio-economic importance in Pacific island countries. In Palau, it is a major staple food, having special cultural, dietary and economic importance. It is usually grown in low lying areas very close to the sea. Salt water intrusion associated with abnormally high tides caused extensive damage to taro patches and traditional food supply throughout Palau. Salinity is a constraint to agricultural production in some coral atoll islands in the Pacific aroid taro is a staple food. This project aims to evaluate tolerance / susceptibility of different varieties of taro to salt water intruded taro patch in pilot sites in Babeldaob, Palau, identify taro varieties that are resistant to saline conditions and propagate these salt tolerant taro varieties for dissemination to farmers working on salt water intruded taro patches. A report on results of experiments will be written for distribution to farmers and other agencies.

Animal Health Component

(N/A)

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

(N/A)

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
102	1454	1060	100%

Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships;

Subject Of Investigation
1454 - Taro;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems);

Keywords

climate change

salt water intrusion

salt tolerant taro

Goals / Objectives
1. To evaluate tolerance / susceptibility of different varieties of taro to salt water intruded taro patch in pilot sites in Babeldaob, Palau 2. To identify taro varieties that are resistant to saline conditions in taro patches 3. To propagate these salt tolerant taro varieties for dissemination to farmers working on salt water intruded taro patches 4. To prepare a report on results of experiments for distribution to farmers and other agencies

Project Methods
1. Selected sites which have been affected by salt water intrusion will be identified as pilot sites . Different taro varieties will be grown and evaluated for their tolerance/susceptibility to salt water / saline intruded taro patch. Negotiations will be made with the farmers working in the area affected by the salt water intrusion for permission to use their farm and work together as a farmer cooperator in this project. A Memorandum of Understanding will be signed and executed with the farmer cooperator stating the objectives of the project and the role and responsibilities of PCC-CRE and the farmers. 2. Soil samples will be taken from the different areas in the taro patch for soil analysis to determine the nutritional status of the soil. Conductivity measurements will also be taken from the soil and water samples in the taro patch. Different varieties of local and introduced taro varieties will be planted in the traditional Palauan way. Data on growth and survival will be taken at 3 months and 7 months after planting. Corm yield will be taken at harvest time. 3. Taro varieties that have shown high survival and yield in relatively saline field conditions will be identified to be salt tolerant and will be mass propagated by tissue culture for distribution to other farmers with salt water intruded taro patches. 4. Results of these studies and experiments will be published in scientific journals and local publications .

Progress 01/02/13 to 12/31/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audience are farmers whose taro patches are affected by salt water intrusion, extension agents, researchers and government officials. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Farmers were given the opportunity to participate in the evaluation of the tolerance and susceotibility of the different taro varieties to salt water intruded taro patches. It has also opened up opportunities of reviving abandoned taro patches and making them productive once again using the salt tolerant taro varieties, How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Information on these salt tolerant taro varieties were disseminated to the public and to farmers through newspapers, newsletters and bulletins, as well as radio and community fora. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Performance of 18local and introduced taro varieties were evaluated in salt water intruded taro patches in Ngimis, Ngatpang and Ollei, Ngarchelong. Resuts revealed that taro varieties Kirang, Dirrubong and Dungersuul were capable of giving good performance in terms of survival, good growth and high yield over the other taro varieties tested and evaluated. These taro varieties have been propagated for distribution to farmers with taro patches affected by salt water intrusion. We have distrbuted 1426 Kirang plants, 1584 Dungersuul plants and 1235 Dirrubong plants. Resuts of this project are published in a chapter on a book entitled "Taro Production in Palau".

Publications

• Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Del Rosario, Aurora G., Nalson M. Esguerra and Thomas Taro. 2015. Taro production in Palau . Kolonia , Pohnpei: College of Micronesia Land Grant Programs 92 pp.

Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audience are farmers whose taro patches are affected by salt water intrusion, extension agents, researchers, and government officials. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Information on these salt tolerant taro varieties are being dessiminated to farmers through the radio and community fora. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Propagation of these salt tolerant taro varieites will be intensified to be able to distribute more plants to farmers affected by salt water intrusion. Some plants of these salt tolerant taro varieties will also be sent to the Center for Pacific Crops and Trees in the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Evaluation of the performance of 18 local and introduced taro varieties in salt water intruded taro patches in Ngimis, Ngatpang and Ollei, Ngarchelong revealed that taro varieties Kirang, Dirrubong and Dungersuul were capable of giving good performance in terms of survival,good growth andhigh yield over the other taro varieties tested / evaluated. These taro varieties are now being propagated for distribution to farmers affected by salt water intrusion. So far, we have distributed 33 Dirrubong plants, 687 Kirang plants and 50 Dungersuul plants to 10farmers. Results of this work are included in a chapter on a book prepared on "Taro Production in Palau"

Publications

• Type: Book Chapters Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2015 Citation: Del Rosario, A.G,, N.M. Esguerra and T. Taro. 2015 Taro Production in Palau. College of Micronesia Land Grant Programs

Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: Target audience for this project are the farmers whose taro patches are affected by salt water intrusion, extension agents, researchers, government officials. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Another wetland taro patch (mesei) in Ollei Hamlet in Ngarchelong State which was consistently intruded by salt water during high tide was another pilot site used for evaluation of salt tolerant taro varities. This taro patch was also abandoned by women as it has been unproductive due to this problem of salt water intrusion. Arrangements were made to utilize this area to evaluate the tolerance and susceptibility of some varieties of taro to salt water-intruded taro patches. The wetland taro patch was divided into 37 sections and prepared for planting in the traditional way by breaking up and turning the soil manually, and flattening it. The different sections were planted with 18 local and introduced varieties of taro. Soil analysis and salinity level was taken from different sections of the field. Two months after planting, the different varieties of taro in Block A showed high variability in survival rate. Ungil Dil seemed to be the most sensitive with the lowest percent survival whereas the variety Kirang showed relatively high percent survival and appeared to tolerate saline conditions. Average height of the different taro ranged from 40

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2014 Citation: Del Rosario, A.G. Taro, Thomas and Sengebau F. 2014. Salt tolerant taro varieties in the Republic of Palau. Poster Presentation. International Horticultural Congress. Brisbane, Australia

Progress 01/02/13 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Target audience are farmers growing taro in Palau Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Continue data gathering

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The wetland taro patch (mesei) in Ngimis Hamlet in Ngatpang State which was consistently intruded by salt water during high tide is the pilot site for evaluation of salt tolerant taro varities. This taro patch has been abandoned by women as it has been unproductive due to this problem of salt water intrusion. Arrangements were made to utilize this area to evaluate the tolerance and susceptibility of some varieties of taro to salt water-intruded taro patches. The wetland taro patch was divided into 37 sections and prepared for planting in the traditional way by breaking up and turning the soil manually, and flattening it. The different sections were planted with 18 local and introduced varieties of taro. Soil analysis and salinity level was taken from different sections of the field. Two months after planting, the different varieties of taro in Block A showed high variability in survival rate. Ungil Dil seemed to be the most sensitive with the lowest percent survival whereas the variety Kirang showed relatively high percent survival and appeared to tolerate saline conditions. Average height of the different taro ranged from 40 to 80 cm. The experiment is still on-going and final results such as taro yield still has to be obtained at harvest time.

Publications